Welcome to our patient referral service
We’re here to take care of you and your smile, and you’re here because you’ve been referred to us by your dentist. If you’re considering treatment at Arnica that’s not currently provided by your dental practice, please discuss your needs with your regular dentist and ask them to refer you to us.
About us
Arnica Dental Care is Cheltenham’s dental sedation centre and a centre of excellence for treating nervous, anxious and dental phobic patients who might otherwise not receive treatment essential for healthy teeth and gums.
We strive to be at the forefront of gentle dentistry – minimising discomfort and anxiety with sedation and a gentle approach, adapted and tailored to suit individual patient’s specific circumstances and needs.
Why you’ve been referred to us
Your dentist referred you to us for treatment requiring sedation and/or more complex surgical procedures not currently available at your practice. Your dentist has trusted us to provide you with the highest standard of clinical care, minimum discomfort and anxiety.
As Cheltenham’s dental sedation centre, we are the region’s leading dental sedation practice. We are qualified, experienced and equipped to administer intravenous and inhalation sedation essential to treating nervous, anxious and dental-phobic patients who may otherwise not receive the treatment they need.
Since 2001, we have been offering a comprehensive range of dental treatment under sedation – from routine restorative treatment to more complex treatments such as extractions, root canal therapy, crowns, veneers and dental implants.
Intravenous sedation involves a sedative being administered through a cannula into a vein in the arm or the back of the hand. This technique changes the patient’s level of consciousness, meaning that even the most anxious patient can undergo dental treatment, and although they remain conscious they often remember little about the procedure.
Intravenous sedation is also suitable for those with a hypersensitive gag reflex or resistance to local anaesthesia.
Sedation (IV) is primarily for adults or children over 16. However, following a comprehensive assessment, strict IV guidelines and best practices, we may recommend IV sedation for some children over 12.
Inhalation sedation (also known as relative analgesia) involves breathing a mixture of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oxygen through a comfortably-fitting nose piece that allows dental treatment to be carried out simultaneously.
Inhalation sedation is one of the simplest ways to ensure dental treatment is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. It is ideal for anxious children and adults with hypersensitive gag reflexes. Our team has extensive experience in performing orthodontic extractions under relative analgesia.
Inhalation sedation will not cause drowsiness. However, patients will feel much more relaxed and able to talk, and therefore they will be able to tell the dentist how they are feeling during the treatment.
Most patients will experience a pleasant, warm sensation with inhalation sedation and may feel mild tingling in their hands and feet.
Once sedation is stopped, patients will feel normal again within ten minutes.
Principal dentist and practice owner Dr. Ellie Ledger is one of the region’s most experienced implantologists, leading a team that provides the following dental implant procedures:
- Single and multiple dental implants.
- Implant-supported bridges.
- Implant retained dentures.
- The revolutionary ‘All-on-4’ procedure.
- All-on-4 procedure with zygomatic dental implants in cases of low bone density.
- Arnica has recently invested in a CBCT 3d low-dose digital scanner for faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatment planning.
With extensive experience performing complex surgical procedures including maxillofacial trauma surgery, Dr Ellie Ledger and her team offer procedures not commonly available at other practices. These include sinus lifts/grafts, alveolar block grafts and soft tissue grafts and apicoectomies.
Why choose our referral service?
- Trusted by over 100 regional referral dentists.
- Centre of excellence for treating nervous, anxious and dental-phobic. patients.
- One of the region’s leading implant centres.
- Extensive experience in complex surgical procedures.
Our referral service guarantee acknowledges the trust you place in us and fully protects your interests and those of your patients.
Why choose our referral service
- Trusted by over 100 regional referral dentists
- Centre of excellence for treating nervous, anxious and dental-phobic patients
- One of the region’s leading implant centres
- Extensive experience in complex surgical procedures
Our referral process
Although we adapt the treatment and care we offer to suit the individual circumstances and needs of our patients, routine dental implant referrals will include the following steps.
Discuss with your dentist
Your dentist will discuss your referral treatment, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have.
Referral by your dentist
Your dentist will refer you to us using our online or printed referral forms, including any additional information, such as X-rays.
Confirm receipt and discuss with dentist
If necessary, we’ll contact your dentist to confirm receipt of your referral form and discuss your treatment with them.
Arrangement of consultation
We’ll contact you to chat through the referral process, enter your details into our system and arrange your referral consultation with either Dr. Ledger, Dr. Gill Kemp, Dr. Toby Mitchell-Innes, Dr. Sarisa Martin, or Dr. Nicola Robinson.
Referral pack
You’ll then be sent our referral pack comprising a confirmation letter, referral guide, sedation guide/s and a medical history form to complete before your appointment.
Consultation and examination
You’ll then attend a referral consultation which will include a patient examination and if required, an X-ray or CBCT low-dose, three-dimensional digital scan. Your Arnica dentist will discuss your treatment with you and give you a treatment plan and cost estimate.
If you prefer, you can discuss your treatment with your dentist before starting your course of treatment at Arnica. If required, a team member can discuss affordable finance options with you to spread the cost of your treatment. (see below). Contact reception to book your first treatment appointment. The reception might suggest that you book several meetings in advance to suit your course of treatment.
What our referral patients say
Affordable finance
Spread the cost of your referral treatment with our interest-free finance options.
Benefits to you of our affordable finance options:
- Spreading the cost of treatment might suit your current financial circumstances, meaning you can pay later for the treatment you need today.
- Access treatment when you need it most, for example, in time for a significant life event such as a wedding.
- Having treatment sooner rather than later might minimise discomfort, stress and inconvenience, and may also cost you less.
- Making use of interest-free finance means you will not have to dip into your savings, which you might need for other essential expenditures.
Terms and conditions
Finance applicant must be aged 18 or over, a UK resident, have a UK bank account and be in permanent employment. All loans are subject to eligibility, status, affordability and a credit check. T&Cs apply. Finance is available on private dental treatments only.
The minimum spend for finance is £250 and the maximum is £50,000. 0% APR representative is available on repayment terms of up to 36 months subject to the amount of credit. Finance taken at repayment terms of 48 or 60 months is subject to 7.9% APR representative.
Arnica Dental Care and Bupa Dental Care are trading names of Oasis Dental Care Limited, Vantage Office Park, Bristol, BS16 1GW, whose company registered number is 00478127. Oasis Dental Care Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FCA registration number 710559. Oasis Dental Care Limited is a credit broker and not a lender.
Finance is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register no. 704348. Registered Office: Novuna House, Thorpe Road, Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, TW18 3HP. Registered in Cardiff under company no. 1630491. The register can be accessed through www.fca.org.uk
Key information for referral patients
When we book you in for your referral appointment, we will send you our referral information pack comprising essential information about your referral to Arnica Dental Care. You can also download this information below.
